If you live in Europe, have a stash of old GameCube games, and want to buy a Wii, your time is now limited. According to Nintendo, this Christmas will see the release of a newly-designed Wii in Europe. The new model is smaller and allows for easier horizontal orientation, but there's a catch: The system will lose its backwards compatibility with GameCube titles and accessories.

This news is especially salient for gamers who use GameCube controllers with Wii titles, such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii. Players who want to enjoy these titles without motion controls will still be able to, although they will have to invest in a Classic Controller or a third-party gamepad. Of course, players who simply wanted to play through titles like The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker or Eternal Darkness will be out of luck, too.

Starting this Christmas, Nintendo in Europe will be focusing on the new Wii bundles. A bundle will include the new Wii model, Wii Sports, Wii Party, a Wii Remote Plus, and a Nunchuck. Nintendo has yet to announce a price.

While GameCube compatibility is a nice thing to have, dropping compatibility features for cheaper prices or expanded features (PS3, DSi) seems to be an increasing trend in the console market. With Christmas still many months away, European gamers have plenty of time to get their hands on a backwards-compatible Wii.

The Wii was like the smallest and cheapest console on the market. Why make it smaller and cheaper? It's not like the PS3 where they need to cut the cost of making the console to make a profit. I'm afraid I just don't get this.

I'm sure there are plenty of used ones that still have backwards comparability if someone cares. Nintendo really needs to let you use an external USB drive because there just isn't enough space for all the wiiware and VC games.

Well, backwards compatibility was the main reason why I bought a Wii in the first place.

I like to play whatever game is compatible with the Cube controller whenever possible.

Also, my Cube has remained broken for quite some time, so the Wii is my main platform for all things Nintendo.

But on the other hand, I seriously doubt that 95% of the people who bought a Wii was for the same reason, heck, I even doubt they even know there were other consoles before and that the Wii is an amazing piece of retro gaming without inquiring the use of ilegal emulators.

What happened to Nintendo used to being the best company for backwards compatibility but they have been going downhill since dsi. Do they think we have infinite inputs on our tvs? I see no reason to not have it.

I'm sure there are plenty of used ones that still have backwards comparability if someone cares. Nintendo really needs to let you use an external USB drive because there just isn't enough space for all the wiiware and VC games.

I got a 2GB SD card for $20 and it works like a charm, and is the only extra space I'll ever need (It's something like 10x the Wii's internal storage). The port for the card is in the front panel you flip open.

Well, I can sort of see the sense of removing GCN compatibility at this point. There are next to no GCN controllers on the market and the newest revision of the Classic Controller is almost just like one minus the rumble. If you ever wanted to play a GCN game, you could easily pick up a GCN for $30 used on the internet. Many stores are phasing out their GCN stock and most of the good games have been completely bought up. If you seriously wanted to play the GCN backlog, you'd likely need to search the internet anyway.

This makes much more sense than removing wi-fi from the PSP, at least.

LeonLethality:The Wii was like the smallest and cheapest console on the market. Why make it smaller and cheaper? It's not like the PS3 where they need to cut the cost of making the console to make a profit. I'm afraid I just don't get this.

It's called getting ready for the Christmas rush. Sony have announced that they're going to cut £50 off the price of a PS3 in time of Christmas. Microsoft will probably announce something similar in the next few weeks. Nintendo are simply following standard industry practice: give those who've not yet bought a console a reason to get one for Christmas.

xyrafhoan:Well, I can sort of see the sense of removing GCN compatibility at this point. There are next to no GCN controllers on the market and the newest revision of the Classic Controller is almost just like one minus the rumble. If you ever wanted to play a GCN game, you could easily pick up a GCN for $30 used on the internet. Many stores are phasing out their GCN stock and most of the good games have been completely bought up. If you seriously wanted to play the GCN backlog, you'd likely need to search the internet anyway.

This makes much more sense than removing wi-fi from the PSP, at least.

The Classic Controller Pro is nothing like the Gamecube controller, it's more like a Dualshock controller (without the dualshock...LOL).

The only Wii games I still play regularly are Metroid Prime Trilogy - a collection of three games, two of which were made for the Gamecube - and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which I invariably play with a Gamecube controller. Other than that, I use my Wii for Gamecube games - I love The Wind Waker, and Super Monkey Ball is brought out whenever my younger neighbors come over.

In short, backwards compatibility is pretty much the reason I use the Wii nowadays. That doesn't seem like a feature you'd want to cut out.

This article fails to mention that the Wii is not "losing" its backwards compatibility, but is being released in a second optional version that will be dubbed a "family edition" or something of the sort. This is only for those who want a cheap console to play casual games on, and since most Gamecube games aren't as much of the family variety there's no point in keeping that functionality, especially if losing it results in a lower price. The original Wii will keep selling in Europe alongside this new slim Wii.